Sexual Harassment is a Scourge in the Workplace
Two United States Senators offered their resignations due to allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace yesterday. The longest serving Congressman in the House of Representatives offered his immediate resignation earlier this week based on claims of inappropriate workplace behavior. We have a sitting President who almost twenty women claimed sexually assaulted them during his time as a self-proclaimed star and real estate developer. I am highlighting December 12th on my calendar. It is the day when another politician with allegations of child sexual abuse is up for election. The Republicans are so desperate for a vote in the Senate that they will look past allegations of sexual impropriety for the sake of the part.
I guess powerful, and mostly rich people are used to getting their way in business and in life. Bill Cosby was a megastar who was intent on reviving his show business persona when his actions after hours caught up with him. He is currently awaiting a retrial on unwanted touching allegations. The elephant in the china cabinet that ignited this recent storm of abuse against women and sometimes men was Harvey Weinstein. He, along with his brother, co-founded Miramax. This is an entertainment company which produced hits like Pulp Fiction and Sex, Lies and Videotape. The number of women that have accused him of lewd behavior that sometimes included rape is staggering. Gwyneth Paltrow, Mira Sorvino, Rosanna Arquette, Zoe Brock, Ashley Judd and Cara Delevinge are among 50 women who have made claims of sexual harassment against this man.
Buffering Harvey Weinstein against these claims was his status as a Democratic fundraiser. There is no way that a respected producer who could rub shoulders with the nation's movers and shakers could have done these things. The wall of invincibility is coming down hard for men who considered themselves untouchable. Matt Lauer was fired from NBC after hosting the Today Show for twenty years. He is accused of having the ability to lock his office from his desk. Women who he had an attraction to could be subject to an inability to escape while he trained his unwanted desires on them. It seems like NBC will not have to pay $30 million still owed to him as part of his contract. Morals clauses are probably needed in all contracts for people in position of authority.
I was shocked by the allegations against Kevin Spacey. I never got into House of Cards but, ironicslly, it is the story of Congressman Frank Underwood who is a Democrat from South Carolina. It has 65 episodes to its credit and Mr. Spacey was in production for a sixth season. Based on these allegations this will be the last show for the series. Kevin is an accomplished actor who played in Superman Returns and Baby Driver. He was bought down by a fourteen year old who claimed that he was groped by the actor. He has identified as a gay American. That makes no difference to me. He is one of a long line of 'stars' whose auras are blemished by human failings. I hope that these gentlemen whose careers have been impacted by sexual misconduct allegations realize that women and men want to go work without being subject to unwanted touching and ogling.
Bill O'Reilly was a cash cow for Fox according to his ratings and conservative views. It was recently revealed that Fox has paid out almost $45 million to settle claims of harassment against this pundit. The straw that broke the camel's back for O'Reilly's highly rated show was when advertisers started to pull their ads on the show. He was adamant at first that thes women had made baseless claims against him. Senator Al Franken was one of the few people who was contrite and apologetic for his actions. Confidential settlements regarding sexual harassment are only good if the perpetrator doesn't call accusers liars or try to denigrate their character. Also, the threat of suing accusers doesn't work if those being abused are fed up!!
Time's Person of the Year for 2017 is a group of Women called 'The Silence Breakers'. These are women who have decided to fight fire with fire. It reminded me of the story done by the women who accused Bill Cosby of sexual harassment. Many were married and had moved on with their lives. Even if a woman is single with no children, the thought that men can impose their will and sometimes their private parts on them is just nasty. I wonder who is cringing at the thought of being exposed in 2018? Any men who haven''t been affected by this continuous outing of abusers should stop and take time to look in the mirror. It is time to keep our hands and lascivious thought to ourselves.
I guess powerful, and mostly rich people are used to getting their way in business and in life. Bill Cosby was a megastar who was intent on reviving his show business persona when his actions after hours caught up with him. He is currently awaiting a retrial on unwanted touching allegations. The elephant in the china cabinet that ignited this recent storm of abuse against women and sometimes men was Harvey Weinstein. He, along with his brother, co-founded Miramax. This is an entertainment company which produced hits like Pulp Fiction and Sex, Lies and Videotape. The number of women that have accused him of lewd behavior that sometimes included rape is staggering. Gwyneth Paltrow, Mira Sorvino, Rosanna Arquette, Zoe Brock, Ashley Judd and Cara Delevinge are among 50 women who have made claims of sexual harassment against this man.
Buffering Harvey Weinstein against these claims was his status as a Democratic fundraiser. There is no way that a respected producer who could rub shoulders with the nation's movers and shakers could have done these things. The wall of invincibility is coming down hard for men who considered themselves untouchable. Matt Lauer was fired from NBC after hosting the Today Show for twenty years. He is accused of having the ability to lock his office from his desk. Women who he had an attraction to could be subject to an inability to escape while he trained his unwanted desires on them. It seems like NBC will not have to pay $30 million still owed to him as part of his contract. Morals clauses are probably needed in all contracts for people in position of authority.
I was shocked by the allegations against Kevin Spacey. I never got into House of Cards but, ironicslly, it is the story of Congressman Frank Underwood who is a Democrat from South Carolina. It has 65 episodes to its credit and Mr. Spacey was in production for a sixth season. Based on these allegations this will be the last show for the series. Kevin is an accomplished actor who played in Superman Returns and Baby Driver. He was bought down by a fourteen year old who claimed that he was groped by the actor. He has identified as a gay American. That makes no difference to me. He is one of a long line of 'stars' whose auras are blemished by human failings. I hope that these gentlemen whose careers have been impacted by sexual misconduct allegations realize that women and men want to go work without being subject to unwanted touching and ogling.
Bill O'Reilly was a cash cow for Fox according to his ratings and conservative views. It was recently revealed that Fox has paid out almost $45 million to settle claims of harassment against this pundit. The straw that broke the camel's back for O'Reilly's highly rated show was when advertisers started to pull their ads on the show. He was adamant at first that thes women had made baseless claims against him. Senator Al Franken was one of the few people who was contrite and apologetic for his actions. Confidential settlements regarding sexual harassment are only good if the perpetrator doesn't call accusers liars or try to denigrate their character. Also, the threat of suing accusers doesn't work if those being abused are fed up!!
Time's Person of the Year for 2017 is a group of Women called 'The Silence Breakers'. These are women who have decided to fight fire with fire. It reminded me of the story done by the women who accused Bill Cosby of sexual harassment. Many were married and had moved on with their lives. Even if a woman is single with no children, the thought that men can impose their will and sometimes their private parts on them is just nasty. I wonder who is cringing at the thought of being exposed in 2018? Any men who haven''t been affected by this continuous outing of abusers should stop and take time to look in the mirror. It is time to keep our hands and lascivious thought to ourselves.
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